New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

POISONS AND THERAPEUTIC GOODS REGULATION 2008 - REG 58

58 Administration by persons employed at hospitals and managed correctional centres

(1) A person employed at a hospital or managed correctional centre must not administer a restricted substance to a patient without a direction from an authorised practitioner.

(2) A direction must be--

(a) written and given in person, or

(b) given in another manner approved by the Secretary.

(3) However, a direction may be given in an emergency--

(a) by email or facsimile, or

(b) orally, including by telephone, or

(c) in another way approved by the Secretary.

(4) An authorised practitioner who gives a direction under subclause (3) must attend to review the patient as soon after giving the direction as the authorised practitioner considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(5) As soon as practicable and no later than 24 hours after giving a direction under subclause (3)(b), the authorised practitioner must confirm the direction by--

(a) signing an entry in the patient's medical history, or

(b) email or facsimile.

(6) If the authorised practitioner does not confirm the direction under subclause (5) within 7 days after the restricted substance is administered, the person who administered the substance must notify the Secretary.

(6A) Subclause (1) does not apply to a person employed at a hospital or managed correctional centre who holds an authority under Part 8 to administer the substance.

(7) Subclauses (4)-(6) do not apply to the administration of a restricted substance to a patient who is an inmate in a correctional centre if confirmation of the direction for the administration of the substance is given in accordance with the requirements of a protocol approved by the Secretary.

(8) In this clause--

"authorised practitioner" does not include a veterinary practitioner.

"patient" means--

(a) a patient in a hospital, or

(b) an inmate in a managed correctional centre.

: Maximum penalty--15 penalty units.